Disclaimer: I.D.N.O.T.
A/N: Soooo...I've made myself a liar...yup. That is all.
Chapter 11: Aftermath
I jumped out of my bed, throwing the covers completely onto the floor. I threw open my window and jumped out into the rain. By the time I hit the ground I landed on all fours. I didn't pause to listen, neither to Seth, who had just burst into my room through the door, not to my surroundings as I took off toward the north. Seth was now screaming for me to come back, but I didn't care. That dream was too vivid to be just a dream. It could not just be a coincidence that it was pouring rain like in my dream. The wind was howling and ringing in my ears as I ran, just like I had felt in my dream. This couldn't be a coincidence.
"Leah! Stop! Come back!" Seth shouted in my brain.
"Wait, what's going on here? Leah?!" Jared's voice echoed in my mind, I could tell he was far to the far to the west, running our farthest perimeters tonight. Not close enough to worry about him catching up to me. But Seth was following. But I know I am faster than he is, my legs longer thanks to my slight age advantage.
"Leah?! What's going on?!" Seth shouts again. "Answer me!"
I try to keep from answering him but I can't help thinking about the dream, which means he and Jared get to see it.
"What the…Holy cow…" Jared gasps.
I can feel Seth's concerned speechlessness. I can also feel him speed up behind me.
I pause momentarily to assess my surroundings. Yes this is the spot! I take a sharp turn to the east and speed up again. I feel Seth react as he adjusts his course. Now even Jared has strayed from his rounds and is heading toward me.
I reach the clearing where the gash in the earth should be and stop dead in the middle of it. There is nothing here. Nothing. I begin pacing. I must have made a wrong turn somewhere. I had to have. I turn to back track and there is Seth loping into the clearing panting like crazy. I turn to head west, and get around Seth, but Jared is just visible dashing and weaving between trees to reach us.
"Leah. Please. Just. Wait." Seth pants in my brain.
I heave a sigh and sit, defeated, as Jared catches up and Seth catches his breath. Seth comes over to me and tucks his head under my chin. I jerk away from him. I can feel this hurts him, but I really don't need Jared to be privy to my weakness, or to such displays of affection. I'd look weak.
Seth backs up. "Listen, Leah. There is nothing here. It was only a dream. A really scary dream, but a dream."
Jared chimes in. "I've been out all night and I'm the only one. I'm fine. I haven't run into anything all night. No one is out here in trouble. I promise."
I nod at him. "Thanks, Jared. I know you would call. I just had to see for myself, ya know? It felt too vivid to ignore."
"I felt that. Sheesh, Leah, that was some nightmare. I don't blame you one bit. But don't worry. I got this, ok?" He seemed to be gently smiling. I nodded again.
"Come on, Leah. Let's go home." Seth nudged me gently. I rose and started walking back to the house. I gave a last glance to Jared, who nodded before he headed back the way he had come.
"Jared!"
"Yeah?"
"Be careful. Something's not right." I called.
He cocked his head, and then smiled a wolfish grin. "I will. Sheesh, MOM!"
"I'm serious."
He sobered up, "I know. I will be." He nodded and began to run.
"Sooo…?" Seth almost whispered.
"We'll talk about it later." I snapped. "Let's just get home." I took off once more, Seth beside me. We ran in silence until we reached the woods behind our house, and phased back.
A/N: Relatively short I know. Kinda a transition chapter. More soon. No promises this time so I'll quit turning myself into a liar. Best intentions and best laid plans and all that. So let me know what you think! Reviews of any nature welcome always! See ya soon!